‘Ukrainian officials show ‘adolescent foolishness’, not diplomacy’

Protesters burn fayers during rally against Russian President Vladimir Putin in front of the Russian embassy in Kiev on June 14, 2014. (AFP Photo / Yuriy Kirnichny) / AFP

The Ukrainian President is sitting at the top of a living volcano and must understand that exacerbating conflict with Russia will put an end to his presidency, Michael J. Carley, professor of history and 20th century international relations, told RT.

RT:Western
nations blocked Russia's resolution condemning the embassy attack
at the UN Security Council. Is the drive against Russia so strong
that they can't even condemn a blatant act of
vandalism?

Michael J. Carley: It certainly looked that way.
According to press this morning, the US, the UK and France
apparently blocked or are going to block the Russian proposition.
In fact, they seem to block all Russia's propositions on Ukraine,
and I don’t really know why Moscow bothers except to go through
the motions. It’s clear that the US is pursuing an antagonistic,
provocative policy toward Russia and the European states are
following, if somewhat reluctantly, US orders as it were.

RT:Ukraine's acting Foreign Minister came
to the embassy... but all we heard from him was "Russians, go
home" and obscenities towards Putin. What kind of diplomacy is
that?

MC: It’s not diplomacy at all. I would call it
“adolescent foolishness”. Perhaps in the midst of a
great danger, it’s like kid playing with a lightened stick of
dynamite. I noticed that Lavrov was quoted today saying “Who
is this guy?" [about] the so-called Minister of Foreign
Affairs. I think they need to get somebody that is a little bit
more diplomatic to deal with Russians.

RT:What about Ukraine's president? His top
diplomat is shouting obscenities together with a crowd of vandals
while police stand by, instead of protecting foreign diplomats...
And he hasn't made any statement. Why?

MC: I do not know the Ukrainian President
personally, but I am guessing that he needs to consult his
American brokers and perhaps also “Pravij Sector” [Right
Sector] backers. He is caught between a rock and a hard place;
his main strongest brokers want an open conflict with Russia. But
he is not a stupid man and he must know that such a conflict
would put an end to his presidency. If I were in his boots, I
would hesitate too. He does not have a lot of time though to make
his mind up. He is sitting at the top of living volcano.

RT:Is this going to lead to a complete end
to diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Russia?

MC: My guess is no, because Moscow wants to keep
open lines of communication to the Kiev junta even if the crisis
worsens. I would say that the crisis cannot go on escalating
indefinitely because there is going to be some reaction from
Russia.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.